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CHAPTER II.

1810-1813.

Historical Society-The Catholic question-Speeches in 1811Personal appearance and manner-Lincoln's Inn-Quarrel with his uncle-Public events of 1812-The Veto-Speech at the Catholic Board-Reply to O'Connell.

DURING the latter part of his academic course, and while he was pursuing his studies for the bar, young Sheil was a constant attendant at the meetings of the Historical Society, which then were held within the walls of the University. Notwithstanding the latter circumstance, and the existence of a rule forbidding any direct reference to modern politics, strong opinions on the great subjects that have at all times divided thoughtful and inquiring minds, often found expression in the animated debates of the society. Regard for collegiate authority, which marked with jealous vigilance its proceedings, (and by which they were even

tually, in a moment of public excitement, summarily suppressed), prevented the use of party appellations and the open recognition of party distinctions. But the banners of Conservatism and Liberalism, though they waved unseen, were followed by the eye of youthful faith with ardour and enthusiasm. There were cheers and counter cheers for eloquent allusions, thinly veiled, to the stirring topics of the day, and not a few of those who afterwards bore a prominent part in Irish politics and polemics, were arrayed against one another in this preparatory school of earnest controversy. Looking back on these scenes of ingenuous and seemingly resultless excitement, some may perhaps have been tempted to regard them as little better than undress rehearsals of parts which, to be played well and effectively, require a greater audience and a more enkindling scene. But in the chill of after life, and amid its disenchantments, we commit few stranger errors than those which arise from the obliteration of early thoughts and immature convictions. If memory did not so frequently doze and deceive us, we should read, with exquisite sympathy for our former selves, any chance record that might remain of the intellectual struggles of our early days struggles not intellectual only, but sus

tained oftentimes by as much of moral energy and earnestness and feeling, as those more profitable and pompous controversies in which we mingle when our hairs are grey. That youth and inexperience are sometimes led to form hasty opinions, and hotly to express them, and that thus a whole course of life is sometimes determined unadvisedly, is doubtless true. But there is little wisdom in seeking to ignore the depth and strength of the impressions which reading, however limited, and observation of existing circum. stances, however circumscribed, form in the fresh and germinating soil that is only to be found in youthful breasts. In a letter, written after an interval of forty years, by one of the most eloquent and earnest of Mr. Sheil's cotemporaries in the Historical Society, the writer says: "His opinions and mine were quite as opposite at that time as at any part of our future lives." And an incident, in itself trivial, may serve to illustrate the importance seemingly attached by him to the divisions taken on questions of peculiar interest in the society. A gentleman whose acquaintance he had made during a journey from London to Dublin, still recollects the anxiety which he evinced to arrive before a given hour; and as the passage of the Channel was at that time a matter of no little uncer

tainty, his impatience became uncontrollable as day went down, and there seemed no prospect of the vessel reaching the harbour. Late in the evening they did arrive, however, to his great satisfaction, when, leaving his luggage to the care of his new acquaintance, he hurried away in order that, if possible, he might gain the college gates in time to vote upon the question which was that night pending.

"I have a full recollection," observes the writer of the letter above quoted, "of Mr. Sheil. His powers as an orator were, at that time, very imperfect. His fancy was very vivid, and his speeches more remarkable for their display of imagination than of argument. His voice was weak and squeaking, and his manner very theatrical; but he was evidently a youth of very promising talent, of very ardent mind, and one who was likely to be distinguished in his future career. He was always listened to with pleasure; his feelings were excitable; and I recollect, on one occasion, his making a sharp and clever retort to some remarks which I had ventured to make, on an allusion to modern politics, contrary to a rule of the society." This estimate of his undeveloped powers is certainly much more favourable than that which he himself was

* Letter to the author, dated 30th December, 1853.

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accustomed to express when, late in life, he looked back upon his college days. No one could be more conscious of the physical defects with which Nature, like a step-dame, seemed resolved to thwart his boyish ambition to be an orator. His early efforts in debate, like those of Curran, were often unsuccessful, and owing probably to a similar cause, namely, that of precipitancy in his mode of utterance.*

No art, indeed, could soften the shrillness of his voice; but care in the attainment of an elaborately distinct articulation, and the adoption of a marked and modulated tone of utterance, redeemed, though it could not cure, the faults of the vocal organ. The habit of speaking frequently in public subsequently strengthened his voice, which, though never sufficient to enable him to address effectively a large assemblage in the open air, seldom failed completely to fill any edifice, however spacious or lofty. Of the theatrical character of his elocution more will be said hereafter. It is probable that, at no period of his life, was he disposed to regard it as a fault, however anxious he may have been to avoid the imputation of permitting it to degenerate into extravagance.

He was not discouraged by his want of success in * Life of Curran, by his Son. Vol. i., p.

34.

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